QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 28 February 2018

.The following quiz will have 5-10 MCQs . The questions are mainly framed from The Hindu and PIB news articles.

This quiz is intended to introduce you to concepts and certain important facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services preliminary exam 2018. It is not a test of your knowledge. If you score less, please do not mind. Read again sources provided and try to remember better.

Please try to enjoy questions, discuss the concepts and facts they try to test from you and suggest improvements.

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INSIGHTS CURRENT EVENTS QUIZ 2017

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The following Quiz is based on the Hindu, PIB and other news sources. It is a current events based quiz. Solving these questions will help retain both concepts and facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services exam.

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1. Question

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Mission Innovation

Aims to make it cheaper to produce clean energy, enough to outcompete ‘dirty’ or coal energy, even without any subsidies, by 2025

Mission Innovation (MI) is a global initiative of 22 countries and the European Union to dramatically accelerate global clean energy innovation.

As part of the initiative, participating countries have committed to double their governments’ clean energy research and development (R&D) investments over five years, while encouraging greater levels of private sector investment in transformative clean energy technologies. Presently, the 22 participating countries and the European Union represent more than 80 percent of global clean energy R&D budgets.

Mission Innovation was announced on November 30, 2015, as world leaders came together in Paris to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change.

India was also one of the countries which took initiative in sowing the seed of ‘Mission Innovation’.

The Global Apollo Programme: The Apollo programme aims to double the money being spent globally on research and development of renewable energy, energy storage and smart grids from the current 2% of the world’s R&D budget. Nations joining the programme would commit to spending 0.02% of GDP on the R&D (each country will spend this in their own country) and would get a place on a global commission that would coordinate and direct the research to avoid duplication.

Mission Innovation (MI) is a global initiative of 22 countries and the European Union to dramatically accelerate global clean energy innovation.

As part of the initiative, participating countries have committed to double their governments’ clean energy research and development (R&D) investments over five years, while encouraging greater levels of private sector investment in transformative clean energy technologies. Presently, the 22 participating countries and the European Union represent more than 80 percent of global clean energy R&D budgets.

Mission Innovation was announced on November 30, 2015, as world leaders came together in Paris to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change.

India was also one of the countries which took initiative in sowing the seed of ‘Mission Innovation’.

The Global Apollo Programme: The Apollo programme aims to double the money being spent globally on research and development of renewable energy, energy storage and smart grids from the current 2% of the world’s R&D budget. Nations joining the programme would commit to spending 0.02% of GDP on the R&D (each country will spend this in their own country) and would get a place on a global commission that would coordinate and direct the research to avoid duplication.

2. Question

Consider the following statements about the ‘Biofuture Platform’, seen recently in the news:

1.It aims to accelerate development and deployment of modern sustainable low carbon alternatives to fossil based solutions in, among others, the transport sector

It is a multi-stakeholder initiative

The idea to set up the platform was first suggested by India at the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct

Solution: a.

In the news (PIB – International Conference on Sustainable Biofuels 2018): The two day international conference on Sustainable Biofuels is jointly being organized by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Biofuture platform. Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge is one of seven innovation challenges endorsed by Mission Innovation.

The Biofuture Platform aims to accelerate development and scale up deployment of modern sustainable low carbon alternatives to fossil based solutions in transport, chemicals, plastics and other sectors.

The Biofuture Platform was proposed by the government of Brazil to several leading countries in all five continents.

The initiative aims to bring together a relatively limited but strong group of like-minded countries which are either already leaders in the new advanced bioeconomy or interested in its development. 20 countries (including India) are the founding and current Member States.

As a multistakeholder initiative, international organizations, academia, and private sector associations are also involved and engaged as official partners.

In the news (PIB – International Conference on Sustainable Biofuels 2018): The two day international conference on Sustainable Biofuels is jointly being organized by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Biofuture platform. Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge is one of seven innovation challenges endorsed by Mission Innovation.

The Biofuture Platform aims to accelerate development and scale up deployment of modern sustainable low carbon alternatives to fossil based solutions in transport, chemicals, plastics and other sectors.

The Biofuture Platform was proposed by the government of Brazil to several leading countries in all five continents.

The initiative aims to bring together a relatively limited but strong group of like-minded countries which are either already leaders in the new advanced bioeconomy or interested in its development. 20 countries (including India) are the founding and current Member States.

As a multistakeholder initiative, international organizations, academia, and private sector associations are also involved and engaged as official partners.

3. Question

1.The level of productivity in an economy is a crucial determinant of a standard of living

2.Capital goods are important factors in determining productivity

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct

Solution: c.

Increased productivity allows people to get what they want faster, or to get more of what they want in the same amount of time. Supply rises with productivity, dropping real prices and increasing real wages; it lifts people out of poverty and allows them to focus on efforts beyond mere survival.

Capital goods – machines, technology, improved techniques – are crucial factors in determining productivity. To take a historical example, consider the economy of the United States in 1790 when nearly 90% of the working population was involved in agriculture. In 2000, less than 1.5% of the population was involved in agriculture. By percentage, agriculture consumed some 60 times as much labor in 1790, yet agricultural output is significantly larger today than in the 18th century. This makes food prices much less expensive today, and it frees up hundreds of millions of labor hours that can be employed towards other ends. This is how an economy grows.

Increased productivity allows people to get what they want faster, or to get more of what they want in the same amount of time. Supply rises with productivity, dropping real prices and increasing real wages; it lifts people out of poverty and allows them to focus on efforts beyond mere survival.

Capital goods – machines, technology, improved techniques – are crucial factors in determining productivity. To take a historical example, consider the economy of the United States in 1790 when nearly 90% of the working population was involved in agriculture. In 2000, less than 1.5% of the population was involved in agriculture. By percentage, agriculture consumed some 60 times as much labor in 1790, yet agricultural output is significantly larger today than in the 18th century. This makes food prices much less expensive today, and it frees up hundreds of millions of labor hours that can be employed towards other ends. This is how an economy grows.

4. Question

The recent coal sector reform, touted to be the most ambitious one since the nationalisation of the sector in 1973, will in the near-term benefit especially the states of

a) South India

b) West India

c) North India

d) East India

Correct

Solution: d.

As the entire revenue from the auction of coal mines for sale of coal would accrue to the coal bearing States, the recently approved methodology for auction of coal mines (opening up of commercial coal mining for private sector) shall incentivise them with increased revenues which can be utilised for the growth and development of backward areas and their inhabitants including tribals. States in Eastern part of the country will be especially benefited.

This reform is expected to bring efficiency into the coal sector by moving from an era of monopoly to competition.

It will increase competitiveness and allow the use of best possible technology into the sector.

The higher investment will create direct and indirect employment in coal bearing areas especially in mining sector and will have an impact on economic development of these regions.

It will also lead to energy security as 70% of India’s electricity is generated from thermal power plants.

This reform will ensure assured coal supply, accountable allocation of coal and affordable coal leading to affordable power prices for consumers.

As the entire revenue from the auction of coal mines for sale of coal would accrue to the coal bearing States, the recently approved methodology for auction of coal mines (opening up of commercial coal mining for private sector) shall incentivise them with increased revenues which can be utilised for the growth and development of backward areas and their inhabitants including tribals. States in Eastern part of the country will be especially benefited.

This reform is expected to bring efficiency into the coal sector by moving from an era of monopoly to competition.

It will increase competitiveness and allow the use of best possible technology into the sector.

The higher investment will create direct and indirect employment in coal bearing areas especially in mining sector and will have an impact on economic development of these regions.

It will also lead to energy security as 70% of India’s electricity is generated from thermal power plants.

This reform will ensure assured coal supply, accountable allocation of coal and affordable coal leading to affordable power prices for consumers.

“…these days you must be hearing a lot about the Padma Awards. These awards also attract attention in newspapers and television also. But if you observe, then you will be proud of the fact that there many loftier personalities amidst us and you will naturally be proud of the very fact that today the common man is being cited for Padma awards without any recommendations. There was a certain methodology of awarding Padma Awards every year, but this entire process has been changed for the past three years. Now any citizen can nominate any person in our country. Transparency has been brought about in the entire process by making it operable online. In a way, the selection of these awards has been transformed completely. You may have noticed that many ordinary people not visible in big cities, in newspapers or on TV are being awarded with Padma citations. Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing.”

“Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka has not been hailed as Goddess of women empowerment just for nothing! For the past three decades, in Belagavi, she has made a great contribution towards changing the lives of countless women. At the age of seven she had dedicated herself as a Devadasi but in a turnaround, for the welfare of the Devdasis, she has spent her entire life.. You will be pleasantly surprised listening to the story of Kerala’s tribal lady Lakshmikutty. She is a teacher in Kallar and still resides in a hut made of palm leaves in a tribal tract amidst dense forests. She has created five hundred herbal medicines relying solely on her memory. She has mastery in synthesizing medicines used for treatment of snake bites. Lakshmi Ji is continuously serving society with her knowledge of herbal medicines.. I would like to mention another name today, that of 75 year old Subhasini Mistri, hailing from West Bengal.. At the age of 23 she lost her husband due to lack of proper treatment, and this incident inspired her to build a hospital for the poor. For this, she cleaned utensils in the homes of others and also sold vegetables. Today, thousands of poor people are treated free of cost in this hospital that has come up through her hard-work..”

These names (and a few others) were mentioned in the January edition of the PM’s Mann Ki Baat programme.

—

Incorrect

Solution: d.

“…these days you must be hearing a lot about the Padma Awards. These awards also attract attention in newspapers and television also. But if you observe, then you will be proud of the fact that there many loftier personalities amidst us and you will naturally be proud of the very fact that today the common man is being cited for Padma awards without any recommendations. There was a certain methodology of awarding Padma Awards every year, but this entire process has been changed for the past three years. Now any citizen can nominate any person in our country. Transparency has been brought about in the entire process by making it operable online. In a way, the selection of these awards has been transformed completely. You may have noticed that many ordinary people not visible in big cities, in newspapers or on TV are being awarded with Padma citations. Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing.”

“Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka has not been hailed as Goddess of women empowerment just for nothing! For the past three decades, in Belagavi, she has made a great contribution towards changing the lives of countless women. At the age of seven she had dedicated herself as a Devadasi but in a turnaround, for the welfare of the Devdasis, she has spent her entire life.. You will be pleasantly surprised listening to the story of Kerala’s tribal lady Lakshmikutty. She is a teacher in Kallar and still resides in a hut made of palm leaves in a tribal tract amidst dense forests. She has created five hundred herbal medicines relying solely on her memory. She has mastery in synthesizing medicines used for treatment of snake bites. Lakshmi Ji is continuously serving society with her knowledge of herbal medicines.. I would like to mention another name today, that of 75 year old Subhasini Mistri, hailing from West Bengal.. At the age of 23 she lost her husband due to lack of proper treatment, and this incident inspired her to build a hospital for the poor. For this, she cleaned utensils in the homes of others and also sold vegetables. Today, thousands of poor people are treated free of cost in this hospital that has come up through her hard-work..”

These names (and a few others) were mentioned in the January edition of the PM’s Mann Ki Baat programme.